Cranford Police file heroin, weapons charges against Rahway man

CRANFORD — Rajul Thomas, 41, of Rahway was charged with heroin distribution and possession of a handgun in connection with an undercover operation spanning more than three months, Cranford Police
announced on June 11.

The following account of the case was given by Cranford Police Department officials.

Cranford Detective Spencer Durkin initiated a narcotics investigation in March after receiving a tip that that Thomas was selling heroin and delivering it to buyers inside the Township of Cranford.

After corroborating the tip and verifying that Thomas resided in Rahway, Detective Durkin expanded the investigation to include Detective William Mannix of the Union County Guns, Gangs and Drugs Task Force.

The joint investigation by Cranford detectives and county investigators led to multiple successful undercover narcotics purchases, and eventually lead to arrest and search warrants being authorized by a Superior Court judge in early June.

On June 10, Thomas was located at his Rahway residence and placed under arrest. Detectives from Cranford, Rahway, and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office executed the search warrant and recovered more than 1,100 packages of suspected heroin from the residence, police said. In addition, police seized a loaded 9mm Beretta handgun, more than $4,000 cash, and the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee used in the narcotics transactions.

As a result of the investigation and seized contraband, Thomas was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon; certain persons not to have weapons; possession of a defaced firearm; distribution of heroin in a school zone; and distribution of heroin in a park zone, police said. He was also cited for various narcotics possession offenses.

Cranford Police Chief James Wozniak was quick to emphasize his zero tolerance stance on narcotics offenses.

“Drug sales in our communities, especially involving a drug as dangerous and addictive as heroin, have the potential to impact every one of us," Chief James Wozniak. "This case is a textbook example of teamwork and inter-agency cooperation with a common goal of eradicating drug dealers from our neighborhoods.”

Chief Wozniak noted that the efforts of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and Rahway detectives were integral to the success of the case.

Thomas is being held at the Union County Jail in lieu of $220,000 bail and is scheduled for a first court appearance on June 13.